Modern Furniture

Modern furniture refers to furniture techniques that have evolved in the 19th and 20th centuries. The way people look at furniture has changed a lot in the modern furniture era. In the past furniture was looked upon as something that provides status but in the modern furniture era furniture is looked upon as a utility product. Even now people look at the aesthetic value of the product but people’s attitude has undergone a sea change as far as buying furniture is concerned.

The modern furniture techniques have been developed on the basis of cultures of Africa, Asia and more importantly Japan. In the past furniture were designed only by following European styles but nowadays Japanese culture has gained the center stage. The major benefit with Japanese style is the practicality it offers in various ways. The materials that are used for making furniture have changed over time due to a lot of inventions. Cavemen used stones as their furniture then during the medieval ages wood was used and in the modern era in addition to wood materials such as steel, plywood and plastics are used for making furniture. While deciding upon furniture you should consider for what purpose it is to be used whether it is for indoor or outdoor purposes. The best wood for outdoor use is the teak wood. The advantage of teak is that it is resistant to any kind of weather. It could stand bad weather for many years. Teak wood would last for at least 15 years if maintained in a proper manner. The main advantage with teak as a modern furniture material is that it is resistant to termites on its own.

Modern furniture has many pioneers such as Noguchi and Eileen. Noguchi designed and created the famous coffee table which was known for its simplicity. Then Eileen designed the famous side table which stands out for its rational design. The form, shape of furniture has changed over the years and a variety of furniture is available nowadays.

The most important thing in using furniture is to maintain it properly. The ways in which furniture is to be maintained is described in the following parts. The one thing against which v is to be protected is moisture. When we use furniture in a humid climate it may swell and hence it has to be cleaned properly and regularly. You could also use a dehumidifier. Humid climate won’t be a problem incase of Amish furniture but incase of modern furniture it would be a problem. the next thing that has to be considered while maintaining furniture is to protect it against sunlight. Direct exposure of sunlight could cause cracks in the wood. It could even result in decreasing the life of the furniture. You could try polishing the furniture but it wouldn’t work against sunlight. The thing that you could do to extend the life of your furniture is to use some kind of mats to protect your furniture against scratches and spillages. Then you have to protect your furniture from termites and you could use some kind of varnish covering.

The furniture techniques that have developed based on the concepts of modernism are called modern furniture. The period of modern furniture if from the late 19th century to the present day period. The distinct feature of the modern furniture is the simplicity that it exhibits. The most important thing that led to the development of modern furniture is the change in attitude of people in viewing the furniture. In the past the furniture were considered to be an ornament but in the modern times the function of the furniture is given more importance. The old furniture mostly incorporated some part of the history in them but the modern furniture displays future and present in them. The modern furniture has evolved from various schools of thought and design such as Bauhaus etc.

Materials Used:
Wood was the material that was mainly used in the old school of furniture. In the modern times a variety of materials is used to make furniture. Materials such as steel, plywood and plastics are being used to make furniture. Steel were first to be used among modern furniture materials and then came plywood and at last plastics.
Steel furniture were strong but were heavy while plywood and plastic furniture were of light weight and practical.

Mingling of Cultures:
The old furniture was based on the European culture. But the modern furniture is based on the African, Asian and Japanese culture. Among these cultures the effect of Japanese culture was more pronounced. The main reason for Japanese culture to gain importance is the practicality that the Japanese culture offers.

Some Examples of Modern Furniture:
Barcelona chair:
This chair was designed by Mies Van Der Rohe and Lilly Reich. It was designed around 1929.this chair was based upon two cultures the roman and the Egyptian culture. This chair was presented by them to the royal family of Spain. This chair is considered to be one of the master pieces of modern furniture history.

Noguchi coffee table:
http://www.furnituredepot.com/noguchi-coffee-table-p-1070.html
This table truly combined the cultures of both US and Japan. It was designed by Isamu Noguchi a famous furniture designer. He was a half American and half Japanese. The most striking feature of this table is the simplicity that it exhibits. This table is considered to be one of the most important master pieces of modern furniture history.

Eileen Gray Side Table:
This table was created in 1927 and is considered to be a masterpiece of modern furniture architecture. It was designed by Eileen Gray for her sister. The thing about this table was that it was a height adjustable table. It was basically a bed table and she designed it as her sister liked to have her break fast in the bed. The thing with this table is that it can be used almost any where be it on the terrace, reception, living rooms or in the bedroom. This table is widely remembered for its rational design and practicability.

Transition:
The furniture which was basically made of wood and of a definite shape and style has evolved over the years into a more practical product. But even now people are trying to create furniture of old culture using modern materials. The thing that has made the modern furniture stand out is their strength, practicality and long lasting nature.